Alzheimer's disease is a
disease that has been
around a lot longer than
there has even been a
correct diagnosis for
it. In fact, medical
literature suggests that
Alzheimer's disease used
to be dismissed as
senility in the aged.
Often people feared
growing old because of
the senility and
dementia that often
occurred as what was
thought to be part of
the natural process of
aging and dying.

Today we know so much
more about the aging
process, and that this
process does not
"naturally" include
senility and dementia.
Senility and dementia
are disease processes
that can be caused by
many different ailments.
One of the most well
known causes of senility
and dementia in the
elderly is Alzheimer's
disease. Those afflicted
with this disease are
know to form brain
plaques and have a
decline in the
production of several
key chemicals, which
normally allow the
nerves to transmit
messages back and forth
in the brain. The
plaques are also thought
to cause brain cell
death, which account for
the degenerative nature
of this disease.

Is there a cure?

Unfortunately, there
is no known cure for
Alzheimer's disease,
however there are some
promising new
medications on the
market and in the
development process
which may help to slow
the progression of this
debilitating disease.

What can be done?

Early diagnosis is
key. As mentioned above,
there are some
medications which may
slow the progression of
the disease. However
these medications may
not be right for
everyone due to their
side affects or even
lack of ability to
obtain or pay for them.
In fact, much of the
current research has
begun to focus on
natural remedies as a
potential way to achieve
the same effects as
these new medications.

What Kind of
Natural Remedies?

Antioxidants are
showing strong promise
in fighting off a myriad
of diseases in the body,
including Alzheimer's
disease. Antioxidants
fight free radicals that
are created in our
bodies. Free radicals
are caused by the
oxidation of Oxygen and
these rogue oxygen
molecules have been
proven to cause damage
not only to brain
tissue, but to many
other tissues and cells
throughout the human
body.

Some of the highest
natural sources of
antioxidants include
Vitamin E and Green Tea.
The antioxidants found
in these may not be
enough to halt all free
radical damage, but it
can clearly help your
bodies natural defenses.
Vitamin E in particular
helps prevent the
progression of
Alzheimer's disease by
preventing the sticky
deposits from forming in
the brain. In fact,
researchers at Columbia
University in New York,
have found that large
doses of Vitamin E
(~2000 IU) every day
were as effective as the
prescription drug
Eldepryl at slowing the
progression of this
disease.

There are other
natural areas that are
under study to help slow
the progression of
Alzheimer's disease. B
Vitamins, amino acids
and avoidance are all
areas that are under
study.

The family of B
Vitamins has been under
study as a potential
defense against this
disease. It seems as
though B Vitamins could
help play a role in
protecting the fragile
covering on all of the
nerves, hence preserving
mental function. It has
been well established
that a deficiency in
Vitamin B can cause
mental confusion and a
decline in mental
sharpness and
performance. Good
sources of these B
Vitamins are Wheat germ,
Turkey, fish, chicken,
fresh pasta and seafood.

Amino acids such a L-Carnitine,
which are found in foods
such as eggs, kidney
beans, and red meats
also can help by
carrying essential fats
into the brain cells
which keep them
nourished and in
preliminary studies
appears to slow down the
destruction of the
brain.

The last thing that
one can do is to avoid
the potential risk
factors. Eat a diet that
is rich in vitamins and
minerals for overall
health and while no
direct link has yet been
proven, there is strong
suspicion that exposure
to Aluminum is a factor
in the development of
Alzheimer's disease.
Early on, researchers
found small deposits of
Aluminum in the brains
of some people with the
disease. As we do not
have conclusive evidence
either way, it is best
to be safe rather than
sorry, and limit the
exposure to these
metals. Cook all food
especially acidic
(tomato sauce etc...)
ones in stainless steel
instead of aluminum
pans. Pour sodas into a
cup instead of drinking
them from the can as it
can cause you to ingest
over 1 milligram more
than the government
established safety limit
per day for each can you
drink from. There is no
way to remove these
metals from the body
once they are there so
avoid the situation, in
order to reduce your
risk of developing
Alzheimer's disease.

What's New In the
World of Research
on Alzheimer's

Where and When:Journal of
Alzheimer's
Disease - Volume
16, Number 1,
January 2009